Despite Ben Stokes’ impressive batting performance, Australia emerged victorious, winning the second Ashes 2023 Test by 43 runs and taking a 2-0 lead in the series, bringing them closer to winning their first Ashes series in England since 2001. However, the controversial stumping incident of England’s wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow by his opposite number, Alex Carey during the Lord’s Test has sparked a significant debate around the Spirit of Cricket.
Day 5 of the Lord’s Test was not only notable for Stokes’ century but also marred by another controversy, following Mitchell Starc’s disputed catch incident less than 24 hours earlier. During the first session of Day 5, as Australia persisted with their short-ball strategy, Bairstow ducked under a bouncer from Cameron Green. It was the last ball of the over, and Bairstow quickly moved out of his crease, assuming the over had ended and began walking towards the other end.
However, the Australian wicketkeeper reacted swiftly and, just a second after collecting the ball and seeing Bairstow outside his crease, he threw it at the stumps and hit the target, stumping out the 33-year-old, who was unaware of the situation. Carey was the first one to celebrate, with the rest of the Australian team joining in. Bairstow was declared out by the third umpire, eventually.
While Bairstow’s dismissal was within the rules, it sparked a debate about the spirit of the game, with many questioning Australia’s tactics and the manner in which they secured the wicket. In response to the ongoing debate and criticism surrounding controversial dismissal, former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has now shared his stance on red-hot debate. He expressed his frustration on Twitter with the perceived double standards in such discussions.
“Hey, sledgers… Does spirit of the game logic apply to you or is it just for Indians?” Gambhir tweeted.
Hey sledgers….does spirit of the game logic apply to u or is it just for Indians?
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) July 2, 2023
Bairstow’s dismissal came at a crucial moment when England were struggling at 193/6, with Stokes and the Bradford-born as the only recognized batting pair left. The dismissal left everyone perplexed, and Australia faced significant backlash. None of the Australian players showed any remorse, and captain Pat Cummins saw nothing wrong with the dismissal.
Bairstow’s wicket will undoubtedly be a point of discussion in Ashes history for a long time. It served as one of the turning points in the second Test as the wicketkeeper batter was building a partnership with the England’s skipper for the sixth wicket. If they had managed to establish a substantial partnership, the hosts could have leveled the series in London.
The third Test of the Ashes series is scheduled to begin on July 6 in Leeds, and it will be intriguing to see if Australia can secure a 3-0 lead. The controversy surrounding Bairstow’s dismissal has added to the anticipation surrounding the upcoming match.
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